[One Final Run Part 3] I Warned Her About You

Posted on Tue Jul 15th, 2025 @ 4:34pm by Lieutenant Adrianna Baciami & Lieutenant JG Zai Walker

1,756 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Stars Around the Well
Location: Out in Space
Timeline: During Repair and Rest

ON:

Constantine walked with Annabelle to the small mess hall. He grabbed a coffee for himself and gestured for her to get something. "Adie clued me in-- I was helping her with her research on you when she called me off," he sighed and sat down, "You told him and he is in denial, I assume."

She shrugged. "Or really upset. Who'd want someone who almost caused him to get hurt back in his life."

"Baciami is a lot of things," he replied, "but she wouldn't have pushed you to tell him without knowing for sure that he wouldn't be happy in the long run about this."

"Honestly, I don't know how well you know Baciami,” Constantine sighed, “but I know that she must care for the two of you, not just him, a lot. Means Vance is either a really lucky guy, or really unlucky in life.”

She shrugged. "I don't know." She placed her head down on the table. "I wish Frankie was here. He'd know what to do."

Constantine nodded, "just give him a minute. Want me to try and distract you for now?"

She sighed. "How?"

Constantine thought for a moment, wondering how best to help, “I've known Ade since we were both toddlers. We dated– almost got married. I'm technically the reason why she doesn't have an American accent anymore and struggles with Standard a bit. I've worked with her on and off since completing the academy. There's not much I don't know about her– good and bad. I neither gain nor lose from being honest with you about her because our friendship spans it. Equally, if you are about to be family– you'll find out everything– good, bad, scary. So I have no issues in answering any questions you may have on her. I know that if I was in your position, not knowing her well, I would be struggling with the idea of letting a loved one near her– let's face it, first impressions count and I'd imagine she hasn't given you a good first impression. She’s not exactly the ‘take you come to meet the parents’ kind of girl based on first impressions. I can try and put your mind at ease about him marrying her."

He ran his fingers through his hair, “Best way to describe her is the same way that an academy lecturer described her: resourceful in appearances. What they meant was that if someone has an opinion of her, she'll use it to her advantage if it helps her work. For example, whilst we were in the academy, someone started a rumor about her that said that she was a psychopath further to not flinching during interrogation practice– the truth was that she was so focused, nothing could have shaken her. Hell, eight brothers tormenting you, as siblings do, will give you a lot of practice. Anyway, she used that to her advantage. Many cadets became scared of her, and she'd play the part to encourage the truths behind the rumor. It worked to her advantage because she was being picked on whilst at the academy for being so small. Gawd, she was the shortest and sweetest little thing back then. Really helped her.”

He shook his head, a nostalgic look on his face before clarifying, “Ade is as human as they come though. Sure, she became very closed off after her mission on Freecloud and the Pendragon, but she is a woman that wears her heart on her sleeve and will do anything for anyone. Prime example is her asking to help with this mission. She is putting herself into such danger arranging all this surprise for Vance, and I suppose you too. Gawd knows she's risking her life for this gift for him and has almost died in his name before.”

"Wait what gift?" Anabelle looked up.

"Apparently Vance has been feeling rather nostalgic lately. Ade thinks it's because his memories are back. She knew that I'd taken over being a key contact for the Pendragon. We've arranged for yourself and Vance to go catch up. It is a genuine mission too-- I mean, we are retrieving a relic. Just she's fudged the paperwork so that instead of meeting for an hour, were going somewhere closer and meeting for 6hours. Equally, she hasn't registered either of you on the manifest-- just in case you guys want to return to your old lives. She's bracing herself to say goodbye, but I don't think that will happen," He shrugged, "thought she told you. Either way, I tried to talk her out of coming too, but gawd knows that woman is stubborn as hell. She's going to get herself killed if she's not careful. Gawd knows the Pendragon want her dead-- especially Lutz, the new captain-- think you know him. He's been on the ship for a long time."

She sighed. "Why?"

"I mean," he shrugged, "many reasons-- it looked like Starfleet killed another Adams. The her final mission was based where we're going. She arranged a funeral for Vance. I was there to help with tactical support on the request of her brother, Giovanni. Ade had been suspended pending investigation and was going stir crazy. She made a stupid pact with Fleet–”

Constantine told her about the suicide mission, finishing with, “she didn't speak to Gio or me– anyone really– for months after because she was mad at still being alive and not ‘with Vance’. Anyway, she made a load of calls and the whole smuggling syndicate practically showed up. When the target showed up, he brought an entourage. A number of people died because of the mission. The Pendragon made a vow to bring her to Freecloud styled justice if they ever saw again. I'm not sure what they'll do justice wise, but Ade seems to think they won't kill her or kidnap her. Either way, I think Lutz is just butthurt because he was the one that introduced Vance to her, not knowing that she was Fleet. He feels guilty, no doubt.”

He shook his head and sighed, looking into his mug, remembering how hurt he had felt for her, “I'll hand it to Ade, when she loves, she does so unconditionally. I broke her heart more than once, but she stayed with me. Almost got her killed, and she did everything to ensure I didn't get kicked out of the academy for it. I don't know how, or why, but she brings out the best in people she loves and loves them flaws and all.”

"I mean why do I want to hate her, like you know, hate her but I bloody can't."

"Oh," Constantine replied, "sorry. I misunderstood. Look, Adrianna is a lot of things, but she's not a bad person. Sure, she's about to marry your brother, but she kept your secret, she encouraged this, she made this plan that will probably get her killed. Adrianna is an easy person to dislike, but if you truly see the bigger picture-- even someone like Lutz wouldn't be able to kill her-- and gawd knows he's tried." He shook his head but was amusingly curious, "I'm intrigued though-- what did she do to you that makes you want to hate her, or is it just the fact she's a psychopath sometimes?"

"Nobody is good enough for my brother..." She says it as if she's trying to convince herself. "Maybe...I'm trying to convince myself she's not." She pauses. "It's not working though. I can't hate her."

"When my sister found her now husband," Constantine shrugged, "gawd, I hated him so much. His smug little face. It was the kind of face that you'd never get sick of hitting him. I didn't care-- I chose not to get to know him, but I did everything in my power to try and break them up-- no-one was good enough for her."

He paused, "then, we had some family issues and I watched as he went out of his way to not only defend me-- someone who had been nothing but an ass to him, but keep my sister safe too. I witnessed first hand the man he was. I saw how happy he made her and how much he encouraged her to be the best version of herself. It wasn't until I saw just how much he had filled in for me in my absence, that I realized that whilst no-one will ever be good enough for her-- he was a good guy and he wanted to be enough for her."

Constantine ran his hands through his hair, "maybe you just need that moment too. You need to see first hand how much she loves him. I don't mean a wedding, I don't mean reading unredacted reports. I mean physically see it. You don't have to like her, but just so you know: she's the kind of person that if she found out that Vance and you were not getting along because of her-- she'd take a step back. In her eyes, family will always come first."

She sighed. "No...that would kill him. He deserves to be happy." She looked at him and grinned. "You're really something. If I didn't love my husband so much I may just make a play for you."

"Then you'd be dating a guy that almost married Adrianna, oh and I'm not sure my husband or kids would be happy," he smirked before his eyes went to the door as it opened.

Adrianna said something in Russian and Constantine nodded. Adrianna looked at Annabelle, "he's a lot calmer now, if you wanted to talk to Vance properly. We'll be at our destination in about four hours. Either of us would be happy to sit in with you if you need us. Vance is in the cargo hold revising for our pick up."

Annabelle stood up and walked over to her. "I reallllllly want to hate you. I really do. Stop making it so hard to do that!" She sighed and then gave a peace offering smile to Adrianna.

"Want me to act like a puttana? I can do that, but you have to tell Vance you asked it of me," Adrianna grinned and looked at Constantine, saying something in Russian.

Connie snorted and raised his hands as if surrendering, "don't ask me. I just did what any self respecting man would-- warn her about how awful you are."

Adrianna chuckled and walked out, heading back to the pilot seat.


To Be Continued...

 

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